To commemorate this special day, AOS in collaboration with RAPA Gjirokastër, Conservation Youth Club of Gjirokastra (CYC), and the group EcoFriend have conducted a number of activities, with the main focus being on the protection of the Egyptian Vulture’s population in the Drinos Valley.

AOS has been observing with great concern the alarming rise of poaching incidents during the month of August. Cases such as the luring (through the usage of electronic calling devices) and killing of the Common Quail in the Western Lowlands, the killing of the European Roller, the killing of numerous flocks of Eurasian Golden Oriole, etc, have been published in various wildlife and hunting related social media outlets.

The release of the bird took place on the morning of August 14, 2020 in Drino Valley. After the discussion with Croatian experts, we decided to release it in Drino valley due to its proximity to Greece where a colony of Griffon Vultures is located. From there Mokoš can join more quickly with other individuals of his own species. Besides, the Drino Valley and the Vjosa Valley are preferred habitats for vultures, especially the Egyptian Vulture.

If we look back at the time of its rescue, the Stork was in poor shape, weakened and frail from the lack of food. In the rehabilitation center, the Stork not only found a safe space but also the necessary food and nutrients for it to reach an optimal weight.

AOS has the great pleasure of announcing four new and exciting records regarding the recovery of the Egyptian Vulture (𝘕𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴) in Albania: The observation of a pair in the upstream of the Vjosa River, a territory once occupied by a single individual. AOS experts were able to monitor up close the new individual, and …

When I left Albania in 2012, the thought of wildlife biology and conservation as a career had never crossed my mind. As a matter of fact, it took me four years of living in the city where American ornithology was born – Philadelphia, USA – to realize the immense opportunities, and need for immediate action …

The activity On July 23 and 24, 2020, for the second consecutive year, AOS organized and conducted the monitoring of power lines in the Drinos Valley. This time joined by twelve members from the Conservation Youth Club of Gjirokastra (CYC) and their professor, Dr. Gentian Hyka, under the guidance of four of our experts. This …

The European Roller (Coracias garrulus) is a medium-sized migratory bird with a distinctive vibrant blue to cyan plumage. It generally inhabits dry, warm, open spaces with sparse trees, and is mostly solitary and territorial. Each year, Rollers start their journey in the southern part of Africa, they cross the Sahara desert and Mediterranean Sea in …

Survey on the use of poison baits in the south of Albania At present, the use of poison baits is defined by law as an illegal practice in Europe, including Balkans (recently – Albania), but is still in use by local people as a quick and affordable “solution” for resolving the conflicts with predators and …